Chicago Sinfonietta, Conductor Andrés Franco & Waubonsie Valley H.S. Choir in Día de los Muertos, Naperville, Nov. 1; Chicago, Nov. 2

 

Chicago Sinfonietta, joined by Colombian guest conductor Andrés Franco, and Waubonsie Valley High School Varsity Choir celebrates

Día de los Muertos

 

Wentz Concert Hall, Naperville, November 1

Symphony Center, Chicago, November 2

 

 

CHICAGO (October 19, 2015) – The Chicago Sinfonietta captures the duality of grief and joy intrinsic to the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead in its annual Día de los Muertos concert, where the orchestra is joined by Colombia-born guest conductor Andrés Franco, making his Sinfonietta podium debut, and Waubonsie Valley High School Varsity Choir. The Chicago Sinfonietta performs Día de los Muertos twice: first, in Naperville at Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Sunday, November 1 at 3 pm, and then again in downtown Chicago at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Monday, November 2 at 7:30 pm. 

 

The Dia de los Muertos celebration provides an expansive canvass on which to mix and compare sounds, emotions, cultures, and beliefs. The journey begins in the dark moments of despair and loss as depicted by Barber’s Adagio for Strings and Fauré’s choral masterwork, Requiem, performed by the Varsity Choirs of Waubonsie Valley High School. The first half ends with the first hints of light and salvation as Chicago-based composer Elbio Barilari’s Ofrendas receives its World Premiere performance. This work is dedicated to the Sinfonietta’s Founder, Paul Freeman, who passed away in late July of this year and is a part of the Sinfonietta’s season-long tribute, “Paul Freeman:  A Season of Celebration”. The concert resumes with Gabriela Lena Frank’s enchanting Three Latin American Dances for Orchestra. Moments of transcendence further the musical experience with Faure’s In Paridisum followed by the expansive melodies of Wagner’s Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries, and concludes with the irrepressible and bright symphonic melodies of Moncayo’s Huapango.  

 

“I am very excited about making my Chicago Sinfonietta debut conducting the [annual] Día de los Muertos concert,” stated Andrés Franco. “This Holiday illustrates the wonderful amalgam of cultures that makes up the Americas, mixing elements from European, Native Indian and Afro-American traditions. A striking aspect of the el Día de los Muertos is its celebratory atmosphere. Instead of just mourning the dead, the Holiday celebrates their lives through food, parties and activities. It is very fitting that we will be performing the World Premiere of Offrendas by Elbio Barilari, a piece dedicated to the memory of Maestro Paul Freeman. We will celebrate his life and legacy as we make our journey from darkness to light.”

Exclusively for the Wentz Concert Hall performance, the West Suburban Friends of the Chicago Sinfonietta are hosting a Día de los Muertos brunch to raise critical funds for the Sinfonietta’s concert season and education programs. This exciting “Party to Celebrate the Dearly Departed” will feature a lavish spread of Mexican and American brunch fare, Mariachi music, an incredible dance performance by the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, kid friendly activities, a Day of the Dead costume contest, an exciting silent auction, and will finish up with a Marigold Procession into Wentz Concert Hall.  

 

Title:                Chicago Sinfonietta presents Día de los Muertos

 

Program:          BARBER                       Adagio for Strings
FAURÉ                         Excerpts from Requiem – Introit and Kyrie, Agnus Dei
BARILARI                      Offrendas (World Premiere)

FRANK                         Three Latin American Dances for Orchestra                   

FAURÉ                         Excerpts from Requiem - In Paradisum

WAGNER                      Die Walküre: Ride of the Valkyries

MONCAYO                   Huapango

 

Dates:               Sunday, November 1, 2015 at 3 p.m.

Wentz Concert Hall of North Central College, 171 E. Chicago Avenue, Naperville

 

Monday, November 2, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

Orchestra Hall of Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago

 

Tickets:            Single tickets range from $18-$99 for concerts at Symphony Center and $48-$60 for concerts at Wentz Concert Hall, with special $10 pricing available for students at both concerts. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Chicago Sinfonietta at 312-236-3681 ext. 2 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

 

Tickets for the family-friendly brunch start at $50 for ticket holders and $100 dollars for both a concert ticket and event admission; a family package is available. Tickets can be purchased via phone at 312.284.1559 or online at www.chicagosinfonietta.org/Dia2015.

 

For over 28 years, the Chicago Sinfonietta has pushed artistic and social boundaries to provide an alternative way of hearing, seeing and thinking about a symphony orchestra. Led by Music Director Mei-Ann Chen since 2011, each concert experience blends inventive new works with classical masterworks, each from a diverse array of voices, to entertain, transform and inspire.  Learn more at www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

 

The Chicago Sinfonietta is grateful to its supporters including, BlueCross BlueShield, Nicor, Macy’s, Latino Music Festival, Telemundo, Arte y Vida Chicago, Chicago and Naperville Magazines, Chicago Reader and WXRT plus Dia de los Muertos event sponsors Molex, JP Morgan and Sister Cities Foundation. Thanks also to the Fairmont Hotel and the Hotel Arista for downtown and Naperville guest artists accommodations, and to Southwest Airlines for artist travel.

 

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